The next world.

Yuzuki Nozomi's POV

It's my turn to visit my house next. Since the car got totaled, we're all traveling by train. The special bracelets suppressing our chi hum faintly on our wrists, a constant reminder of what we've lost and gained in this journey.

I glance around at my companions, my eyes locking onto Kael. He's been with us for three days, and yet, I barely know anything about him.

I still can't wrap my head around it—he's an idol. My idol. But looking at him now, you'd never guess. His hair, normally concealed under that bright pink wig, is a frizzy, spiky mess. His ridiculously long eyelashes—top and bottom—cast shadows over his tired eyes. His lips are a little chapped, and there's scruff on his face, giving him a rough, unpolished look.

And yet… there's a charm to him. Something magnetic, even in his disheveled state. I can't stop staring.

Finally, I tap him on the shoulder. "So, tell me more about yourself. I mean… I didn't know you were an idol until recently. It's kind of surprising, honestly. The way you look now, it's… rough. Not bad! Just… different. You're still handsome—just not what I expected. So? What's your story?"

Kael shrugs, his voice low and unbothered. "There's not much to say. I'm pretty boring, to be honest." He rubs the back of his neck, glancing at me. "Yeah, I'm an idol. You actually met me as an idol—you were at my concert, remember? I'm just as surprised as you are that we met this way, and now we're moving to a whole different world together. Funny how things work out, huh?"

I nod, urging him to continue.

"But like I said, there's nothing really special about me," he adds. "I'm just a blank slate. The only thing of note is that I have a kid. I need to see him before we leave for good."

The bus screeches to a stop—it's our destination. We all step off, and the group follows me as I lead the way to my house. When we arrive, I tell them to wait outside while I run in.

Inside, the familiar scent of home washes over me. I hurry to my room, grabbing a few favorite clothes and my makeup, packing them quickly into a small backpack. My heart is racing. When I head downstairs, I find my grandparents waiting in the living room.

"Grandma, Grandpa," I start nervously. "I just wanted to let you know that I'm… going somewhere. It's going to take a—"

Suddenly, screams echo from outside. My stomach drops. I bolt to the door, throwing it open to see my grandparents standing outside, threatening my friends.

"What do you people want?" my grandfather demands, his voice sharp. "There's nothing here for you—no agency business. Leave quietly."

Ixtli crosses his arms, standing tall. "Listen, old man, we're just waiting for our friend. What's your problem?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa—everyone, calm down!" I shout, stepping between them. "Grandma, Grandpa, these are my friends."

Grandma's expression softens for a moment, but then her face hardens. "Oh no… you've made contact with the other world, haven't you? Sweetie, you can't go with them. Stay here with us. We'll get rid of your chi. Everything will be fine."

"No," I say firmly. "I want to go. I just wanted to say goodbye. I love you both, but… I want to be something special."

My grandparents exchange a long look before Grandpa sighs deeply. "If this is what you want, we won't stop you. You'll always have a home here, Yuzuki. Just… be careful. And don't bring these delinquent friends back with you." He points to Ren with a disapproving frown. "Especially him. Look at those star earrings! What a hooligan."

Seo suppresses a laugh, and Ren just smirks.

"Don't worry," Grandma adds reluctantly. "We'll keep the house safe with our barrier. You can teleport back anytime. But promise us you'll come home safely."

I nod, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. "I promise."

Before we can leave, Seo interjects. "Actually… could Yuzuki's grandparents let us stay here for a bit? We just have to stop by my house and Kael's. Then we'll come back, and Kael and I can head to the portal while the rest of you stay here to prepare."

Grandma raises an eyebrow. "And who is this Kael person?"

Kael raises a hand awkwardly. "Uh, that's me."

Grandma's eyes narrow as she looks him up and down. "Oh hell no. Just look at this delinquent!" she exclaims, her voice rising. "And he's going with this sweet, innocent girl? Absolutely not!"

Seo steps in quickly, grabbing Kael's arm. "Don't worry, Nozomi's grandma. Kael's fine—he's really nice. And I'll be with him the whole time. Trust me, we'll be okay."

Before Grandma can argue further, Seo drags Kael away by the arm, leaving the rest of us to stifle our laughter as the chaos dissipates.

My grandpa tugs my shirt "come inside yuzuki " and then my grandpa looks at my grandma with knowing look as I go inside with my grandpa, he sit me down and pours tea for me he sits in front of me and says " before you go. Your parents were also born in the next world. A lot of people are in this world, but we're just a base this home is a base a shrine for the next world. We basically are a homebase for agents looking for fugitives here, the reason we took this job is due to its safeness. We want you to know and I'm sorry that you have to find out this way, but your parents didn't die in a car accident we don't know what to kill them we just know that they were murdered" He holds my hand and my eyes start to tear up

Haneul Seo's POV

The hallway of my apartment complex was dim, the light above flickering faintly. Kael walked beside me, quiet as always, but his presence felt steady. We reached my apartment door, and I stopped to knock, turning to him.

"Wait here," I said softly.

He nodded, leaning against the wall as I turned back to the door. It opened almost immediately, revealing my sister.

Her expression shifted from relief to frustration in an instant. She grabbed me by the arm and yanked me inside. "What are you doing here? Where were you last night? Why did it take so long—"

"Sis, I—"

"And I'm sorry for yelling, okay? But—"

"I'm leaving."

The words tumbled out before I could stop them. Her face froze, her hand tightening on the edge of the doorframe. Then, with a sharp motion, she slammed her hands on the desk beside us, her voice rising.

"No, you're not." Her words hit like a hammer. "You're not ready. You're not strong enough."

I opened my mouth to argue, but the lump in my throat betrayed me. My voice wavered, my chest tightening with every second of silence. She shook her head, her tone softening but still firm.

"Look at you. You can't even speak up right now."

"I want to go." The words were faint, but I forced them out, pulling strength from the fire burning in my chest.

She stood straight, stepping closer. Her hands landed on my shoulders, heavy like anchors. "You're my sister," she said quietly. "I know you. I know when you're ready, and this? This isn't it. You're too weak."

"You don't even know where I'm going," I said, finding my voice.

"Yes, I do." She sighed, shaking her head. "To the next world. You think it's a coincidence? People like us… people who've come in contact with Chi—we gravitate to each other. Even if you expel it, it never truly leaves. That pull is always there, and I know that's why you want to leave."

She took a breath, her voice low and shaking with frustration. "You don't understand what you're getting into. I don't know how you figured it out, and I don't want to know. I just want to get rid of it for you. I want you to live a normal life. You're not ready for the next world, Haneul. You don't understand it."

Her words stung, but I didn't back down. I pushed her hands away, my own gripping her shoulders as I spoke.

"Please, let me go. I need to go," I said, my voice trembling but gaining strength with each word. "I've always felt weak here. I'm scared to talk to anyone, scared to be myself. I want to change. I want to be someone great—an engineer, a creator, something spectacular. Over there, I think I can. I can start over and be better. Please, just let me go."

Her shoulders slumped as my words hung in the air. Slowly, she reached out, pressing her middle finger against my forehead.

A rush of energy coursed through me, vivid and overwhelming. Flashes of memories I didn't recognize began flooding my mind—images of the other world. I'd been there before. School trips, vacations… moments I'd forgotten.

I saw my parents' faces, their smiles so clear, so close. "I haven't seen them since I was five," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes. "What happened to them?"

"They're missing," she said softly, her voice trembling for the first time. "And that's why I'm scared for you. I'm scared because I want you to be safe. I can't lose you, too."

Her words weighed heavily on me, but the fire in my chest didn't dim. "I'll be okay," I said, swallowing the fear that lingered. "I'll find them. I'll find myself. I promise."

She hesitated, her hand lingering on my forehead for a moment longer before she let it fall. The tension between us didn't fade, but something unspoken passed through her eyes.

"All right," she said finally. "But don't make me regret this, Haneul."

"I won't," I promised, though my heart still wavered.

As I turned toward the door, Kael stood waiting, silent as ever. But something about his presence felt like reassurance.

I was ready. Or at least, I wanted to believe I was.

Kael leaned against the wall outside my apartment, his arms crossed. When I stepped out and closed the door behind me, he straightened, studying me with those sharp eyes of his.

"Everything okay?" he asked, his tone neutral but his gaze heavy, as if he already knew the answer.

I nodded, but my hands were still trembling. "Let's go."

We walked down the stairs together, the silence between us growing louder with every step. The flickering light in the hallway mirrored the uncertainty churning inside me. My sister's words lingered, repeating in my mind like an endless echo: You're not strong enough.

At the bottom of the stairs, Kael stopped and turned to me. "You're quiet."

I froze, clutching the strap of my bag. "I'm just… thinking."

"About what she said?" His tone was soft, but it struck a nerve.

"Does it matter?" I snapped before I could stop myself.

Kael's expression didn't change. He just waited, his presence steady as always, unshaken by my outburst.

I sighed, letting my shoulders slump. "Sorry. I didn't mean to… it's just… she doesn't think I'm ready. She doesn't think I'm strong enough."

"Are you?" Kael asked simply.

His question hit harder than I expected. I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out.

"I don't know," I admitted finally, my voice barely a whisper. "But I need to try. If I stay here, I'll never change. I'll always be stuck in the same place, the same person. I can't live like that anymore."

Kael studied me for a moment longer before nodding. "Then that's enough."

"Is it?" I asked, my voice breaking.

"Yes." He started walking again, and I followed, struggling to keep up with the weight of everything pressing down on me.

When we reached the street, the night air hit me like a wave, cool and sharp against my skin. The world outside my apartment complex felt different tonight—heavier, quieter. It was like the city itself knew I was about to step into something I couldn't come back from.

Kael stopped under a streetlamp and turned to me again. "You're scared."

I hesitated, then nodded. "Of course, I'm scared."

"Good," he said, his voice calm. "Fear keeps you alive. But don't let it stop you."

His words were simple, but they carried a weight that grounded me, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts.

"Thanks," I said, my voice steadier now.

He shrugged, as if it was nothing, and started walking again. I followed, my resolve slowly hardening with every step.

The journey to the portal wasn't far, but it felt like an eternity. The streets grew darker, quieter, the city fading into shadows around us.

"Do you think she's right?" I asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Kael glanced at me. "About what?"

"That I'm too weak. That I'm not ready."

He was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed ahead. "Strength isn't just about what you can do right now. It's about the choices you make. You chose to leave. That's not weakness, Haneul."

His words struck something deep inside me, and for the first time that night, I felt a flicker of hope.

As we reached the hidden alleyway where the portal lay, I stopped and turned to Kael. "Thank you. For everything."

He raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Don't thank me yet. The hard part hasn't even started."

With that, he stepped forward, reaching out to activate the portal. The air shimmered, bending and twisting as a doorway to the next world opened before us.

I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. This was it. There was no turning back now.

"Ready?" Kael asked, his voice steady.

I looked at him, then at the portal. Fear still gripped me, but so did determination.

"Yes," I said, stepping forward.

As I crossed the threshold, the world around me shifted, the familiar city fading away into a swirl of light and energy.

Kaerith POV

The streets were quiet, save for the occasional hum of a distant car or the rustling of leaves in the chilly night air. The city lights flickered above as I approached Angela's house, my heart pounding in my chest. This wasn't going to be easy. It never was.

I stood outside the door for what felt like an eternity, mustering the courage to knock. Finally, I raised my fist and rapped on the wood. The sound echoed in the silence, and I immediately regretted not texting her beforehand.

A moment later, the door swung open. Angela stood there, her eyes heavy with fatigue, but they immediately hardened into frustration when she saw me.

"Kaerith," she hissed, her voice low but sharp. "Do you know what time it is? You were supposed to come in the morning! I've been calling you all day. And now you just show up? What the hell are you doing here?"

I hesitated, my hands twitching at my sides. Her tone was familiar, but it still stung every time. I took a step closer, trying to keep my voice calm.

"Angela, listen," I began, my words careful, deliberate. "I'm sorry. I know I should've called, but I had to handle something. And now…" I trailed off, glancing down the street. The weight of what I was about to say pressed heavily on my chest. "I'm going away."

Her eyes narrowed, her arms crossing over her chest. "What do you mean, 'going away'?"

"Abroad," I said, my voice steady despite the storm in my head. "For a while. Maybe a long while."

Her expression shifted, a flicker of something I couldn't quite place—anger, maybe, or sadness—crossing her face.

"So, what?" she said, her voice rising. "You're just going to disappear? Again?"

"No," I said quickly, stepping closer. "That's not what this is. I'm not running. I just… I need to do this. But before I go, please let me see him. Let me see Eiji, even if it's just for a moment. If he wants to, of course."

Angela stared at me, her gaze searching mine for answers I couldn't give her. The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. Finally, I reached into my pocket and pulled out an envelope.

"I know this isn't enough," I said, handing it to her. "But it's all I have right now. It should cover some things for a while."

She took the envelope reluctantly, her fingers brushing against mine for the briefest moment. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the war between her frustration and something softer.

"Kael," she said quietly, her voice trembling. "You can't just show up and throw money at me every time you feel guilty. That's not how this works."

"I know," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "But it's all I can do right now. Please, just… tell him I'll come back. When I can."

Angela sighed, her shoulders slumping as she stepped back into the house. She didn't say anything as she closed the door, leaving me standing there in the cold.

I turned and walked away, my footsteps echoing in the empty streets. The weight in my chest didn't lift, but I pushed it aside. There wasn't time to dwell on it.

By the time I got back to Nozomi's house, the portal was already prepared, swirling faintly with an ethereal light. Her grandmother was waiting outside, her arms crossed and a stern expression on her face.

"About time you showed up," she said, her tone sharp. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused tonight?"

"I'm sorry," I said, bowing my head slightly. "I had to take care of something."

She didn't respond, but the disapproval in her gaze said enough. Nozomi's grandfather appeared a moment later, nodding in my direction before stepping up to the portal.

"Let's get this over with," he said, waving his hand to stabilize the energy.

I stepped forward, the weight of the evening still heavy on my shoulders. As I passed through the shimmering barrier, the world around me shifted, the familiar sights of the city fading into a kaleidoscope of light and color.

When I emerged on the other side, the first thing I saw was my group of friends. Each of them stood waiting, their faces a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Nozomi was the first to notice me, her eyes lighting up as she waved. "Kael! You made it!"

I forced a smile, though the exhaustion from the day weighed heavily on me. "Yeah," I said, my voice quieter than usual. "I'm here."

As I looked around at the people who had become my strange, unexpected family, I felt a small spark of hope. The past was messy, and the future was uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was heading in the right direction.

And maybe, just maybe, I could finally start to make things right.